Darning-last



(No Model.) L. D. GARHART.

DARNING LAST. No. 432,661. Patentecd July 22, 1890.

we Noms warms no., Novum-No., wmmcw, n. c.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LIZZIE D. CARHART, OF MARION, IOVA.

DARN Ne-LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432,661, dated July 22, 1890. Application filed November 20, 1889. Serial No. 33,937. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, LIZZIE D. CARHART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Darning-Lasts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to darning-lasts for use in darning stockings or other articles, and has for its objects to provide a last possessing flexibility and elasticity, so that it may be easily bent to the shape or curve desired, and by its elasticity will resume its normal shape when the pressure is relieved; also, to provide a last which will prevent contraction of the stocking or other article in darning at the point where the darn is made, and also make a smooth darn, and which can be used without weariness to the hand.

To the accomplishment of the above and such other objects as may hereinafter appear the invention Will now be fully described, and afterward referred to in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective of a part of a stocking, with portions broken away to represent holes in the same, and darning-threads applied to a portion of one of the holes, the last being inserted in the stocking. Fig. 2 is a plan of the last made of vulcanized or hard rubber. Fig. 3 is an edge view of same, with dotted curved lines representing curves that the last may describe. Fig. 4 is a'perspece tive of a last made of unvulcanized rubber. Fig. 5 is a perspective of same representing it bent into concavo-conveXo shape.

In the drawings, the letter A designates the last, which may be either fiat, concave, or convex in cross-section, although preferably flat, and which will be made of some v flexible and elastic material-as, for instance,

india-rubber, vulcanized or not-and which may be of any suitable thickness. A good thickness is one-sixteenth of au inch, and a good length is three or eight inches long by two or four wide.

While the foregoing dimensions are considered to be the best, still I do not limit myself thereto, as other dimensions may be followed, and the size made to depend on the particular use to Vbe made of the last. If the last is of vulcanized or hard rubber, it may be one-fortieth of an inch thick. 'llhe l preferred form is an irregular oval shape, of

which an illustration is given in the drawings, and one which will correspond more or less to the shape of a stocking, although the shape may be varied without departing from other features of my invention.

The form illustrated in the accompanying drawings adapts the last to the shape of the foot and heel 0f different sizes of stockings.

The last may be either molded or cut into the desired shape or otherwise formed. It will be understood that when concave or convex the construction is to. be such that the flexibility of the last and its capability of change to different surface curvatures are not to be destroyed, for if that were done one main object of the invention would be defeated.

In use the last isinserted into the leg or foot of a stocking B, or beneath the article to be darned, and under the hole or rent to l be closed, and then,with the last either in its normal condition or bent or curved to the eX tent desired, the darning-threads C are applied, as usual, to close the rent or hole; but owing to the flexibility of the last the stocking or other article being darned is distended to the extent desired, while the elasticity of the last will hold the portions of the article under sufficient tension to enable a smooth darn to be made.

Owing to the shape, flexibility, and elasticity of the last it can be held and manipulated by the hand without fatigue.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim isl. A darning-last composed of a suitable flexible elastic material constructed of a sec tional thickness less than its length or breadth, and which will allow it to be bent by hand to assume different surface ourvaourvatures, substantially as and for the purtures, substantially as and for the purposes poses set forth. 1o set forth. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 2. A darning last substantially flat in presence of two Witnesses. 5 cross-section andcomposed ofa suitableflexi- LIZZIE D. CARHART.

ble elastic material constructed of a, sec- Witnesses: tional thickness which Will allow it to be G. V. OARHART, bent by hand to assume different 'surface JOSEPH S. LAKE. 

